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Monday, September 29, 2014

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Our first week’s questions are below
followed my answers.

Mrs. Reed's cruelty would have been noticed and reported, had it taken
place in our contemporary society. What factors do you think might have
contributed to its tacit acceptance at the time?

I think that it is more likely that authorities would address Mrs. Reed’s
cruelty in our time, but I do not believe that it is certain that they would.
It seems that quite a bit of abuse of children goes on that is not reported or
addressed these days.

Nevertheless I do agree that such cruelty would not be nearly as
acceptable today. I do hold what seems a controversial opinion that our world
is slowly becoming less violent and people are becoming more kind. Though such
things do still go on, draconian punishment of children is no longer socially
acceptable. Most of us consider this to be immoral and even unthinkable. As a
result of this change in attitudes, we of have of course, laws that help reduce
the frequency of abuse. In the time that Jane Eyre was set, such abuse was
simply more acceptable. This supports my contention that the world is getting
less violent and cruel. Many people, based upon their own consciences were
kinder then Mrs. Reed was, but I think that based upon what we know about the
period, such moral people with such views and gentle dispositions were less
common.

The novel opens on a very dreary, rainy November afternoon. How do
you think this contributes to the general mood of the first chapter?

I think Bronte is portraying a Universe where there is something dark and
perhaps out of balance at work. Obviously the fact that this darkness is
manifested in the form of weather indicates that whatever it is, it is
ingrained in the way that the world is put together. This ominous background
to reality seems to be reinforced when Jane sees the ghost. I am not sure that
I completely comprehend what Bronte is getting at in terms of this dark nature
yet. I expect that I will have better idea about this as the story progresses.

Jane speaks more like an adult
than a child, especially in the scene with Mrs. Reed, after Brocklehurst
leaves. Do you think this is because she's a very intelligent, precocious
child, or is this simply an unrealistic aspect of the novel?

I buy into Jane’s character as a child. I do think that we stereotype
children too much. Every so often a child does exhibits enormous intelligence
and maturity. Obviously Jane is a special person. I can believe that she had
special attributes as a child.

How did Bronte show hypocritical
vs. true Christian behavior in the characters of Mr. Brocklehurst and Miss
Temple?

Obvious the two are opposites.
Mr. Brocklehurst is not just a hypocrite, but he is also completely un -
empathetic and cruel. He preaches hellfire and damnation and thus his malicious
persona does indeed exude hypocrisy. In contrast, Miss Temple is kind and is
not overbearing in her espousal of Christianity and virtue. She not only
displays kindness, but she dispenses good advice and wisdom. Bronte seems to be
portraying Miss Temple as an ideal Christian. I actually think that had the
contrast been a little subtler and less extreme between the two, it might have
been more realistic and even created an aestheticallystronger narrative.

What literary function do curtains
and draperies have in the opening chapters?

Several characters, most
particularly Jane, seem to be using curtains both in reality and symbolically, to
hide themselves the world. Jane uses them to escape the abuse of the Reeds.

At one point she observes
this herself when hiding from John,

“It is well I drew the curtain,” thought I; and I wished fervently he
might not discover my hiding-place”

At another point John
scolds her for hiding behind curtains.

All this seems to reinforce
something about Jane’s character, which is to some degree separated, alienated
and “curtained off” from the world.

Bessie's attitude toward Jane is
inconsistent; at times, she's kind toward the child, while at others, she
scolds her unfairly. Why do you think she acts this way?

Bessie is employed
by the Reeds and is surrounded by people who mistreat Jane. I think that at
least early on, she just goes along with this mistreatment. This seems morally
questionable. On the other hand has she been too overtly sympathetic to Jane,
the Reed’s might have dismissed her, leaving Jane much worse off.

It is clear
however that Bessie often, and eventually always, feels sorry for Jane and her basic
goodness sets in. I believe Bessie to be a mostly sympathetic character. Her
going along with Jane’s mistreatment does add a little complexity to her
persona for me.

Next Week we will be reading chapters 6 - 10, The questions are below.

What are your
impressions of the way that Helen Burns endures punishment and abuse?

What are your
impressions of the way that Jane sees punishment and abuse in comparison to Helen?

Would Mr.
Brocklehurst have been a more realistic and interesting character had he been
less overtly fanatical, cruel and hypocritical and just deeply flawed instead?

Helen Burns exudes
confidence and is sure of her personal beliefs. Do you find it realistic that
such a young person exhibits such traits?

Miss Temple seems
to influence Jane’s personality and outlook on life during her stay at Lowood.
Would Jane have developed differently without her influence?

Jane’s time at Lowoodis marked in the narrative by the seasons and
the description of weather. Does this have any significance?

Once again, please do not feel compelled to answer
them all, just the ones that you want to.

Monday, September 22, 2014

I am excited that the Read Along has begun
and I am reading Jane Eyre! This week’s
questions are brought to us by my read - along cohost Maria of A Night's Dream of Books.

Our questions, which I will answer
together; are as follows:

What do you know about this
novel

and its author?

Have you ever read it
before, or

is this your first reading?

Have you seen any of the TV

or movie versions?

Jane Eyreis one of the books that has been on
my radar for a very long time. Indeed this novel has been on my “lifetime
reading plan” for years. I have not previously read any of the works written by
the Bronte family but once again, I have wanted to do so for a long time.

My expectations for the work are grounded
on what I have heard and read from others. This book seems like a really
important and esteemed novel that is a must read for anyone interested in great
literature. In addition, based upon the movie version that I have seen, as well
as the opinions of others, my general expectation is that this is also darkly atmospheric
tale.

I have only seen the 1942 film
version staring Joan Fontain and Orson Wells. It has been a few years since I
have last viewed it, but I remember it being a really good film. I recall that Orson
Wells’s performance being extraordinary as he was perfectly cast. I hope to re
- watch it during the read along. If I do so I will try to put up an extra post
on it.

We will be reading Chapters 1 – 5 for
next week. Our questions, courtesy of Maria are below. Feel free to answer as
many or few as you want to. I can see how one may want to wander all six or as
little as one. I am the kind of blogger who might just take a single one and
write 2000 words it!

The novel opens on a very dreary, rainy November afternoon. How do
you think this contributes to the general mood of the first chapter?

What literary function do curtains and draperies have in the opening
chapters?

Mrs. Reed's cruelty would have been noticed and reported, had it taken
place in our contemporary society. What factors do you think might have
contributed to its tacit acceptance at the time?

Bessie's attitude toward Jane is inconsistent; at times, she's kind toward
the child, while at others, she scolds her unfairly. Why do you think she
acts this way?

Jane speaks more like an adult than a child, especially in the scene with
Mrs. Reed, after Brocklehurst leaves. Do you think this is because she's
a very

intelligent, precocious child, or is this simply an unrealistic aspect of
the novel?

How did Bronte show hypocritical vs. true Christian behavior in the
characters of Mr. Brocklehurst and Miss Temple?

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